The Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention of Back Pain in Football Players

The chances for the occurrence of injuries are greater in football; injuries can happen either during matches or during practice sessions because this is a game of high-speed collisions. The force exerted on an opponent to take him down or the resilience showed by a player to not fall on the ground makes them highly prone to injuries.

Studies say that one out of three football players suffer from back pain and it is one of the most common injuries in the game. Below are some of the causes, symptoms, and steps you can take to prevent back pain.

Causes

Poor technique can endanger the opponent as well as yourself when on you’re the field and it is one of the major causes of injuries in football. Of course, having proper form and proper techniques during defense and while tackling your opponents would prevent that.

Weak abdominal muscles can aggravate back pain and cause severe damages as well if you ignore them. Similarly, decreased flexibility limits your movements and the chances of back pain become significantly higher, which is why one should get the best medical assistance for these conditions and avoid any further injury.

Symptoms

Players may experience lower or middle back pain initially, which moves towards the buttocks, and then drifts downwards to the thighs and toes. You may experience discomfort and increased pain during running, jumping, and other related activities; but you can feel the pain gradually decrease when you are sitting or not performing any activities. Weakness and numbness in the hip, legs, and feet are also a signs of back pain.

Prevention

Remember that you should only take part in a game if you are free from any sort of pain or weakness. Having a consistent routine workout can help get you stronger and more prepared for the game. You should also include core exercises in to your workouts, as this will help strengthen your core and minimize the chances of back pain. In order to reduce the strain on your spine, you should start stretching before and after heading to the field. If you continue to experience any pain in your back, get in touch with a physician to get the problem checked out.